A popular restaurant in the US owned by a Kenyan entrepreneur is refuting claims that it has been unlawfully underpaying its employees at its Washington branch.
August saw Swahili Village face a wage theft lawsuit from a claimant represented by the District of Columbia Attorney General’s Office, claiming that hundreds of restaurant staff were receiving pay below the rates set by the city.
Founded and run by Kevin Onyona, Swahili Village manages three premises including a distinguished establishment in Maryland and two others in Washington DC and New Jersey.
Being a favoured destination for dignitaries and diplomats, Swahili Village hosted President William Ruto during his recent US trip at its New Jersey outlet. Both CEO Kevin Onyona and COO Emad Shoeb are strongly refuting the allegations made by DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb.
According to the lawsuit, the restaurant and its managers have consistently and intentionally dodged paying workers their rightful wages, tips, and benefits, contravening the fundamental wage, overtime, sick leave, and record-keeping regulations that all employers in the District are obligated to adhere to.
The legal representatives of the accused have denied the allegations. The restaurant chain is undergoing a lawsuit involving the allegations of unfairly procuring workers’ tips and withholding a significant fraction of this amount.
They have also been accused of failing to provide overtime pay to workers who exceeded 40 hours in a work week, as well as neglecting to offer paid sick leave.
Kevin Onyona and Shoeb have disputed claims that Swahili Village DC, also known as the Consulate, is a District corporation and have emphasized that Swahili Village is a Maryland Limited liability company. Swahili Village DC, the restaurant’s branch in Washington DC, began hiring staff in January 2020 in preparation for its opening in March of the same year.
Unfortunately, the operation faced setbacks due to the Covid pandemic and only started to recover in 2021. Mr. Onyona departed from Kenya in 1999 to visit his girlfriend in the United States. Initially, he worked as a salesperson before eventually entering the hospitality industry.
The entrepreneurial Kenyan successfully launched the first Swahili Village restaurant in Beltsville, Maryland, in July 2016. Subsequently, he expanded the business into Washington DC and New Jersey. President Ruto expressed his admiration for the investment and extended his congratulations during his visit to the New Jersey outlet of the restaurant.
The authenticity of the Kenyan cuisine made him feel as though he had been transported to Nairobi, creating a sense of familiarity and comfort.
